Pow-Wows, or Long Lost Friend, by John George Hoffman, [1820], at sacred-texts.com

TO MAKE A WICK WHICH IS NEVER CONSUMED.

Take an ounce of asbestos and boil it in a quart of strong lye for two hours; then pour off the lye and clarify what remains by pouring rain-water on it three or four times, after which you can form a wick from it which will never be consumed by the fire.